Epidemiology and Prevalence

HBV is endemic throughout the world, with populations showing a varying degree of prevalence. Approximately two thousand million people have been infected with HBV, with more than 350 million having chronic infection. Worldwide, HBV kills about 1 million people each year. With the development of a safe and effective vaccine in 1982, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that HBV vaccine should be incorporated into national immunization programs by 1995 in those countries with a chronic infection rate of 8% or higher, and into all countries by 1997. Although 135 countries had achieved this goal by the end of 2001, the poorest countries—often the ones with the highest prevalence—have been unable to afford it. In particular these include China, the Indian subcontinent, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

People in the early stages of infection or with chronic carrier status (defined by persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] beyond 6 mo) can transmit infection. In the United Kindgom, the overall prevalence of chronic HBV is approx 0.2-0.3% (6,7). A detailed breakdown is shown in Table 1.

This guide will help millions of people understand this condition so that they can take control of their lives and make informed decisions. The ebook covers information on a vast number of different types of neuropathy. In addition, it will be a useful resource for their families, caregivers, and health care providers.